Why does God put Daniel Chapter 3 here? He puts Chapter 3 here for an end time people to understand the challenges ahead. Chapter 3 is about a battle. A battle for worship. Who would we worship, God or a political system that is flawed? Who would we worship God or King? Who are we going to show loyalty to?

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue 60 cubits tall / 6 cubits wide (90 feet tall and 9 feet wide) and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. (Daniel 3:1-3 NLT)

• The King suffered from a disease called: Lust for superiority
• This statue is a statement: I don’t care what God says- I’m making Babylon my eternal kingdom. I am Babylon!

Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, LISTEN TO THE KING’S COMMAND! ⁵ WHEN YOU HEAR THE SOUND of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, BOW TO THE GROUND TO WORSHIP KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S GOLD STATUE. ⁶ Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” (Daniel 3:4-6 NLT)

• The King commanded worship for himself
• Let’s take a little pit stop here for minute!

Question: What was the real battle here in Chapter 3? The battle for worship. Either God or the King. Are you ready for a little bit of meat on the side here?

• A universal world leader passes a universal decree commanding man and woman to worship a counter image before all of humanity with mysterious numbers: 60 and 6
• Is there any Book in the Bible where we can connect the dots here?
• Revelation Chapter 13 describes two beasts (King, Kingdom, political power) that will rise up and take power in the end times. The first beast, is a political power that will rule over the earth in the end times. The second beast is the Antichrist.
• Now antichrist means “against Christ”. Most Bible prophecy/eschatology experts believe the Antichrist will be the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be against Christ. A man will arise to oppose Christ and His followers more than anyone else in history. Likely claiming to be the true Messiah, the Antichrist will seek world domination. He WILL ATTEMPT to destroy all followers of Jesus Christ, destroy the nation of Israel and listen to this: MAKE ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH WORSHIP THE BEAST.
• In Daniel Chapter 3, everyone would bow down and worship the statue…Everyone except: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
• Some of the Chaldeans wise men who hated the Jews reported that immediately to the king

“They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him… ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? ¹⁵ I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue… But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”  (Daniel 3:12-15 NLT)

• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went as far as they could to honor the king but they would not compromise their loyalty to God!

There’s coming a time when our loyalty to God will be tested!

• Loyalty is a series of life decisions that we have to make ahead of time before we are required to act. Otherwise we won’t make them!
• From our story, John Hus made up here not to compromise his belief long before he was tried, long before he was put on the stake to be burned alive.
• Getting back to our story in Daniel: I believe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made the decision not to worship this statue long before the inauguration, long before they stood in front of the king.

THERE ARE SOME DECISIONS IN LIFE THAT YOU HAVE TO SETTLE BEFORE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ACT! Like who are you going to worship!

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ IF WE ARE THROWN INTO THE BLAZING FURNACE, THE GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO SAVE US. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that WE WILL NEVER SERVE YOUR GODS OR WORSHIP THE GOLD STATUE YOU HAVE SET UP.”

• They’ve gone as far as they could with honoring the King. But their loyalty was with God.

LOYALTY IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALREADY ARE THAT COMES TO THE SURFACE WHEN YOU ARE TESTED

¹⁷ IF WE ARE THROWN INTO THE BLAZING FURNACE, THE GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO SAVE US. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T…

• Now most of you know how the story ends. But right there and then, the boys had no clue!
• All they had was their loyalty to God!

What does EVEN IF HE DOESN’T mean to you? Would you still be loyal to Him?

• Loyalty to God is a way of life. It’s engrained in your anatomy. It’s woven into your DNA.
• When you are loyal to God, The EVEN IF HE DOESN’T is not scary at all!
• The EVEN IF HE DOESN’T can do 3 things for you: Build your faith, Refine your faith, Perfect your faith. Regardless your faith will be tested, but God will deliver you from the fiery trials of life.

1. God will deliver you from the fire where you will not have to through it– But through this process YOUR FAITH WILL BE BUILT
2. God will deliver you through the fire where you will walk through it – But through this process YOUR FAITH WILL BE REFINED.
3. God will deliver you by the fire into His everlasting arms – In this case YOUR FAITH IS PERFECTED

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into a blazing furnace. It looked like their goose was cooked! But that’s not how their story ended.

²⁴ But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. ²⁵ “LOOK!” NEBUCHADNEZZAR SHOUTED. “I SEE FOUR MEN, UNBOUND, WALKING AROUND IN THE FIRE UNHARMED! AND THE FOURTH LOOKS LIKE A GOD!” ²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” (Daniel 3: 24-26 NLT)

Not matter what fiery trials that you might be going through right now. You are not alone. There’s another one in the fire with you: His name is Jesus!

CONCLUSION:

• Are you going through a fiery trial right now? Where you feel like the flames are overpowering you? I have good news for you. God is there with you!

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. ³ For I am the Lord your God (Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJ)